Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE)
The TN-SHORE initiative focuses on mangrove plantation and restoration, with the plan to restore 1,000 hectares of mangroves as a part of the broader mission to strengthen Tamil Nadu's coastal resilience and economy.
Funding and Objectives
- The initiative is a ₹1,675-crore project, with ₹1,000 crore funded by the World Bank and the rest by the state.
- Aims to restore 30,000 hectares of seascapes and safeguard endangered species like turtles and dugongs.
- Supports sustainable practices, including eco-tourism and plastic waste management.
Implementation and Community Involvement
- World Bank funds are directed to village mangrove councils to enhance local financial decision-making.
- Councils consist of local residents, with a community member as president and the Forest Range Officer as member-secretary.
- A community procurement plan allows for smaller allocations, up to ₹8 lakh, without need for quotations or tenders.
Mangrove Restoration Details
- Restoration involves 300 hectares of new plantations and 700 hectares of degraded areas, funded by an initial ₹38 crore corpus.
- Potential sites for new plantations include abandoned aquaculture ponds, disused salt pans, degraded lands, and existing mangrove gaps.
Current Mangrove Status in Tamil Nadu
- Total mangrove cover in the state is 41.9 square kilometres.
- Includes 1.19 square kilometres of very dense patches, 25.07 square kilometres of moderately dense areas, and 15.65 square kilometres of open mangroves.
Collaborations and Future Plans
- Land parcels for restoration are being identified through coastline mapping by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management.
- Memorandum of Understanding exchanged with the United Nations Environment Programme and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation for further environmental projects.
Key figures present at the Tamil Nadu Mangrove Conclave 2025 included Supriya Sahu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Srinivas R. Reddy, Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra, and members of the Tamil Nadu Governing Council for Climate Change.